DC Police Union backs Trump’s takeover, citing ‘out of control’ crime

President Donald Trump’s temporary takeover of Washington, D.C.’s police department has drawn mixed reactions. The head of the DC Police Union, which represents more than 3,000 Metropolitan Police Department officers, is backing the move, saying it is aimed at curbing what he described as rising crime.

Mixed reactions to Trump’s takeover of DC police

In a statement to multiple news outlets, union chair Gregg Pemberton said the group supports Trump’s decision, citing concerns that crime is “out of control” and that officers are operating beyond their limits.

Mayor Muriel Bowser called Trump’s takeover order “unsettling and unprecedented,” saying she was caught off guard by the move’s scale. On Monday, she highlighted that violent crime in the city has dropped to its lowest point in 30 years, continuing a downward trend that began in 2019 before the pandemic.

The DC Police Union said President Trump’s decision to federalize the MPD will last up to 30 days unless Congress approves an extension. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official Terry Cole will temporarily lead the department. The union assured members that their contract and benefits remain unchanged and that wage increases and back pay will still move forward. 

Union highlights staffing crisis and overworked officers

In May, the DC Police Union issued a press release criticizing conditions within the MPD and warning about public safety concerns. The statement followed a series of crimes and shootings in the district, with the union calling the current situation one of the most challenging in the department’s history.

According to the union, the department’s staffing levels have fallen to their lowest point in 50 years, with more than 600 officers leaving the force since 2020. That drop, equaling about 16% of the workforce, has left neighborhoods with fewer patrols and officers taking on more shifts. Officers, the union reports, worked more than 2 million extra hours last year, the equivalent of adding 1,000 full-time jobs without new hires.

The union has also accused MPD leadership of corruption, claiming supervisors have altered crime statistics to make crime appear lower than it is. In July, the department confirmed that Commander Michael Pulliam was placed on paid administrative leave amid allegations he changed crime data in the district. 

Pemberton told Washington news outlet News4 that command staff pay close attention to two categories: crimes involving individuals armed with a dangerous weapon and whether the crime resulted in someone being hospitalized. He said that some offenses are reclassified as felony assaults because those categories do not reflect the department’s daily crime numbers.

Contrasting crime statistics deepen debate

MPD reports that violent crime is down 26% compared with 2024, while overall crime has dropped 7%, contradicting both the union and Trump. As of Aug. 12, the department reports 1,226 fewer crimes citywide compared with the same period last year.

In an executive order signed Monday, Trump authorized the D.C. National Guard to address what he called an epidemic in the nation’s capital. The order states federal intervention is needed to ensure the safety and peaceful functioning of the federal government and the city.

According to the White House fact sheet, two embassy workers were killed in May, a congressional intern was fatally shot near the White House in June and a Trump administration staffer was recently attacked by a mob. 

The Trump administration points out that the city’s violent crime rate is high, with its 2024 murder rate standing at 27.54 per 100,000 people. That’s higher than cities like Bogota, Columbia, Mexico City, Islamabad, Pakistan, and Lima, Peru, and far above major capitals such as Paris, London and Madrid.

“The District of Columbia is, by some measures, among the top 20 percent of the most dangerous cities in the world,” the order states. 

Homelessness among the concerns 

Trump also addressed the city’s homelessness issue in a news conference, saying the federal team will offer support to those without housing, but said he won’t allow Washington to become a “wasteland.”

“We are going to be removing homeless encampments from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks, which now a lot of people can’t walk on,” Trump said. “They’ll not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see.”

The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness reports that at least 3,782 people in the city experience homelessness nightly. This number includes those living unsheltered, staying in emergency shelters or residing in transitional housing.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Communication Director Jess Rabinowitz with the National Homelessness Law Center, said Trump’s move isn’t designed to help people.

“If Donald Trump wanted to keep D.C. safe, he would fund housing and support. Instead. The Republicans just gutted health care, and they’re passing through a budget that will make homelessness worse. They do not care about helping people,” he said. 

Bowser highlights collaboration with federal officials 

Bowser said Tuesday the city will aim to “make the most of” the increase in federal resources in the city after Trump’s announcement that he’s taking over Washington’s police department and activating 800 members of the National Guard.

“We have more police, and we want to make sure we use them,” Bowser added after a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

She said MPD will remain independent, including over hiring and firing, saying, “Our organizational chart, how we do business, how we fund the police, none of that has changed.”

DC task force to reduce crime, clean up city

On March 27, Trump signed an executive order to improve safety and cleanliness in Washington, D.C. He established a new task force with federal and local agencies to fight crime, speed up concealed carry permits and focus on key areas like parks and monuments.